Atlanta Falcons - TeamReport

July 10, 2014|Reuters

NFL Team Report - Atlanta Falcons - INSIDE SLANT

After missing the playoffs by a lot with an ugly 4-12 record last season, head coach Mike Smith and quarterback Matt Ryan will try to get the Atlanta Falcons back in gear when training camp practice begins July 25 at their Flowery Branch, Ga., facility.

Ryan is especially vested in the improvement of the offensive line, which was the team's weakest unit by the end of last year but heads to camp with a new look.

The Falcons revamped the front wall and hope it will improve on last year's horrid performance -- 44 sacks allowed and only 77.9 yards rushing per game, worst in the league.

The new line features 2014 first-round draftee Jake Matthews at right tackle along with free-agent signee Jon Asamoah at right guard, Sam Baker back from knee surgery at left tackle and Justin Blaylock at left guard. At center there is a battle between Joe Hawley and Peter Konz.

--Center: Last season, Konz opened as the starter in his bid to replace the retired Todd McClure, but he failed miserably. By season's end, Hawley was the starting center. The Falcons appear set to give Konz one more chance to see if he can earn the position. During OTAs, Hawley and Konz were splitting time with the first team with Hawley getting the bulk of the action.

PLAYER WITH MOST TO PROVE

--Sam Baker, LT: After six mostly disappointing seasons, Baker is in a familiar position: coming off a major injury and needing to show he can stay healthy.

The Falcons signed him to a contract extension after he was healthy and effective in 2012, but he lasted just four games in 2013 and wasn't very good when he did play. Baker said he feels healthy thanks in large part to his work with the team's weight and training staff.

BEST LONGSHOT ROOKIE

--Jacques Smith, LB, Tennessee, undrafted rookie: With the season-ending Achilles injury to Sean Weatherspoon, the Falcons are thin at inside linebacker. Smith, signed as an undrafted rookie from Tennessee, may have a shot to make the roster. He played defensive end and outside linebacker during his Tennessee career, finishing with 92 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks and has been impressive this offseason, showing an excellent burst and ability to diagnosis plays.

NFLDraftScout.com rated Smith as the 55th outside linebacker and projected him as a priority free agent. He is 6-foot-2, 258 and had a 40-yard time of 4.59 seconds.

-----------------------------------------------

NFL Team Report - Atlanta Falcons - NOTES, QUOTES

--The Falcons believe they solidified their backup quarterback position by trading for T.J. Yates and releasing Dominique Davis.

The Falcons have been living on the edge at the backup quarterback position, should anything happen to Matt Ryan, since parting ways with Chris Redman.

In 2012, they added Luke McCown as quarterback insurance, but didn't re-sign him for 2013. Last season, Davis, a former undrafted player from East Carolina, was the backup quarterback, but played quarterback in only one game.

So basically, after making it through two seasons without an experienced backup, the Falcons pulled the trigger on a trade to land Yates late Wednesday night from the Houston Texans. He has played in 13 NFL games.

The Falcons sent backup linebacker Akeem Dent to the Texans for Yates.

"You always want to have an (experienced) backup quarterback if you can," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "That doesn't always work out, but T.J. has played in games. He's played in big games. He's won a playoff game for the Houston Texans.

"So, he is an experienced player. We look forward to getting him here."

Yates, 27, was forced into action during his rookie season after Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart sustained injuries. He made his first NFL start against the Falcons and led the Texans to a 17-10 victory on Dec. 4, 2011. Yates completed 12-of-25 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown.

In 13 career games with Houston, Yates completed 101-of-166 passes (60.8 percent) for 1,100 yards with three touchdowns, six interceptions, and had a 71.4 passer rating.

Yates played in six games as a rookie in 2011, including five starts, leading the Texans to a 3-3 record by passing for 949 yards on 82-of-134 passing (61.2 percent) with three touchdowns, three interceptions and an 80.7 passer rating.

Davis, 6-3, 210 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent following the 2012 NFL draft. After a so-so exhibition season, he served as the team's backup quarterback last season, making his NFL debut at Tampa Bay on November 11, 2013.

He completed 5-of-7 passes before leaving the game because of a knee injury.